BLOOMINGTON – In Tom Allen’s estimation, Peyton Ramsey’s resume has earned him the right to be called QB1.

Twenty-one games, 16 starts, 4,127 passing yards, 29 touchdowns and a program-record 65.8% completion rate make Ramsey Indiana’s returning starter, not one of three quarterbacks in a position battle heading into the summer.

But, in his head coach’s same estimation, Ramsey had better steel himself for fall camp, because he’s got two redshirt freshmen — a hard-throwing left-hander and an Elite 11 right-hander — trying to unseat him.

Indiana quarterback Peyton Ramsey (12) runs with the ball during the Cream-Crimson spring game at Memorial Stadium, April 12, 2019.(Photo: Bobby Goddin/For IndyStar)

“It’s fair to say that Peyton’s the returning starter, and someone’s going to have to beat him out,” Allen said during a lengthy sitdown interview with IndyStar last week.

Ramsey is by far the most experienced quarterback on Indiana’s roster. He split duties with Richard Lagow in 2017 before quarterbacking IU’s offense for the majority of last season.

Freshman Michael Penix spelled him in brief spurts before an ACL tear against Penn State cut Penix’s season short. The Tampa, Fla., native completed 21-of-34 passes for 219 yards and a touchdown across parts of three games, before taking a redshirt.

He’s not the only one poised to push Ramsey this year either.

Indiana can also now call on Jack Tuttle, a midyear transfer from Utah who in high school participated in the prestigious Elite 11 quarterback competition. Had he signed with the Hoosiers out of high school, Tuttle would have easily been the highest-rated quarterback ever to commit to Indiana. He is immediately eligible.

In the deepest quarterback group IU has had since 2013 at least, Allen expects Ramsey to set the pace.

“The bottom line,” Allen said, “is you’ve got three guys that all have the talent, and all have strengths and have things that they do well that I think will really create a very, very positive room with lots of competition and lots of good teamwork.”

Only Ramsey was fit enough to participate in IU’s spring game. Tuttle was sidelined by a minor illness that’s not expected to hold him back this summer or fall, while Penix wasn’t quite ready for live work.

Ramsey finished an unofficial 25-of-37 in their absence, with one touchdown and one interception.

Support our journalism

He showed an increased desire to push the ball downfield, something Allen and DeBoer will demand more of this season. That desire is part of what led Allen to DeBoer to begin with.

“It’s not been broken, but it’s not good enough,” Allen said, responding to a separate question about the offense. “To be able to score more points and create more explosive plays and do the things we’ve got to do to win football games, (DeBoer) exudes that confidence.”

And so did Ramsey for one night, or at very least, he did his best to. His touchdown was a precise, 39-yard strike to Ty Fryfogle that exploited a sitting safety. And his interception also came on a deep ball he aired out a little bit too much, overthrowing his intended receiver and finding cornerback A’Shon Riggins instead.

Ramsey made the broader point: He’s intent upon being more of a downfield thrower in Indiana’s new offense than he was last season. In 2017, Ramsey finished third in the Big Ten in passing yards and tied for second in completion percentage, but he tied for ninth in yards per attempt.

He’ll have to continue absorbing the new offense, but unlike Tuttle and Penix, Ramsey has been in quarterback battles before. One more won’t phase him.

“This is my third year going into a QB competition,” Ramsey said after the spring game. “At this point, I’ve experienced it, I’ve lived through it. I’m comfortable. I’m excited for it, because this was a good spring for me. I’m really excited for what’s to come.”

That will have been music to Allen’s ears. IU’s third-year coach knows he needs an offensive upgrade in 2019, and he knows it starts behind center, be it with Ramsey or someone else.

“We’re gonna put the guy on the field that I think gives us the best chance to be successful, and the best chance to win,” Allen said. “I can’t tell you who that’s going to be, but I think yeah, a guy like Peyton has earned the right to be in that role and say, ‘Hey, you know what, I’ve been here. I know I’ve got guys chasing me, I know I’ve got guys who want my job. You’re going to have to beat me out.’

“I want him to have that mindset. And I want the other guys to have that mindset that I’m gonna come in here and prove I deserve to be the guy.”